Method of and apparatus for winding rotors



Jan. 18, 1944. "H, CpSTEARNSJ 2,339,589

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FbR WINDING RQTORS H Filed May '7. 1942 seets-shag 1 Jan. 18,1944. H. c. STEARNS 5 1 9 METHOD OF AND APPARATUSFOR WINDING ROTORS F iled May 7. 1942 2 Sheets-sheaf. 2-

Patented l- I III I I' 'OFAND Jim-um ma f 1 7" I wmnnvc nozro y v MM,chime-m,

I nets Development, lua -Chicago. 111., a oor'no 3- 5 Mutation miqlontsennno'. 442183;;

I I sever-unsure; oi the drawings: a .v 'Iheprimarv I I II I I I I Fig.1is aside .elevational view ol'the appa-- I y minovel apparatusfortr'inding in 5 "ratus oimy inventlonwith portions'broken away v'A-rurther obiectfot the inven i n-1H P Q o ti @116" 1 'a"nove'lmethod'of 'windinzarmatures; j he. 2 is an end elevational view ottheappastill a further object of] theinvention-isle}? mu with, portionsbroken aw y= and,certain providefa novel method. otjand; apparatus for}.otherportlonshein'gh'shownrln lectic I I W f "111g. 3Ii s a topplan viewon enlarged'scale,

showlngthe manner in ohthe wire'is-lald into I jturesin which thewireislaid intothe slots ioi' Manyraotorshavepreventedfthe use unme- 1chanloztl means tor the Vinding-otarmatures i'or' 1 A further object:01' the invention is to provide volt'ajgeirvhigmtrequenoy xenerators;such'as -'a novel method of and apparatus for the '2; I or armatureswherein thedanzer of scraplnati ni I v Jurlnz, breaking, or in any waythe ,hS,V1I lg atermlnalvoltaze well overa-thouaan'd, I,

resistance of the wire during windine'is 1- '1 and-utilizingiabout ,800turns of #36 enamel wire; "I nated;

r Another object 01' the inventlonisto' provlde. inche in diameter,

V the method of my invention which m .b ;pog1. ach individual armatu re:inQa Jis' fixture tive inac ion and simple and f -P 1 m" vawher-eby theendsld'tmmm can 13m! t- ;-=Gertain objects otthe invention 11 11: theprotha h o withln which -vislon's oi spec fic mechanical movement-where;Ito belaid is substantially an arc oLthe 'eylinder' by a pluralityorannatures-are caused to o1 rotation' denned by' the ends orthe'slotsms hr wn acertain'oycleot mechanicalmovementsthe-armature isrotating. The in ordenthatallot said armaturesmaybe s'imul which'thewire is laid down is obviously Bubsta'n- "d. I 3 1 j I tlallyoubical.Flanges areusedtozuide'th'ewlre With 'tl i'Ie j-l'orexoing and otherobjects in'vie'yv into the slots. r I ,whichjwillappear asthedescription proceednthe' I m said prior methods acceleration anddelinvention' consists of. certain novel features'ol ce'lemtion or thewire is causeddurinziithe'wind- :co nstruction.' arrangement andcomblnationuot In: of the same with resultant'stretching and out in theappended claims, it being understood 4o quentlyacomplete breaking of thewire. In these,

procedure of'the method may bemade without" I from being weakened;Furthermore. 101- each departing from the spirit or sacrinoing anyo't'the, slceln wound, a new setting oi the fixture or jig advantages'otthe invention. r ,45: upon which the;armatureis'mounted,'includinga I'Forfthepurpose' oftacilitating'anvunderstandcomplete removal of thearmatureis usually in; of my invention; Iihaveillustrated in the ac-,quireda Also, an attendant is required to operate companying drawings apreferred embodiment of and watch over each. armature windinzdevice. theapparatusthereot' iroma'n inspection or Inprder to maintain anyprosramoi' economical I which, when considered in connection with theproductionthe-speed-oi' the windingmustbehigh; I 7

construction, assembly,- operation and prae tiee, In my inventioma largenumber of armatures and many oi its advfantages should be readily; jmaybe placed upon a suitable fixture and wires understood andappr'eeiated. I a

. Referring-to the drawings in which thesame ll through appropriateguides and led to the armatures produced by my pulley I 'I and belttheplatform ll provided a cam I II or the like journalled in appropriatebrackets ll and adapted to 2| of the segment cam Spacedv along the ofbearings 23 each carrying a vertically arranged 1 'ooilet 24 the upperend of which is in the form of a collar 25 overlyint dinary gear 25'bearing 23. To the bottom end of each of the collets 24 a pinion gear llis keyed or in other manner fixed for rotation with the collet 24.Between each pair of collets 24 a stub shaft II is attached to theplatform ll. A, spur gear 21 is attached to the bottom of each 'of theshafts 28 meshing with the gears 25. Instead of an orbeing attached tothe bottom of .the end collet shown at the right in Fig. l, a

armatures are each rotated simultaneously in the opposite direction.from the previous rotation laying the wire across the opposite end of ito thereby complete a each of the armatures single turn. The fixturethrough the same ber of turns has is then once more moved been appliedbetween the two given slots of each armature. when a skein, i. e., thegiven number of turns, has been applied, the lead wires are pulled fromthe slots and fas-'- tened temporarily, and each of the armatures ismoved in its holder, relativeto the socket a slight amount to permit thewire to be laid into the next given pair of slots. This. is continueduntil the entire armature inthe 'group of armstures being wound iscompletely wound. It will be clearly apparent that the time required towind one armature or the entire group willpbe substantially the same.Obviously only on attendant is needed to watch the entire group and therate of production is-so great that the speed of winding need be low,permitting a higher quality product and lessening the possibilityoffaults occurring. Since there is no scraping or cracking of the enamelon the wire, due to the constant tension improved method is very high incomparison with aramtures made by armatures made by prior methodsheretofore used. f I

Referring now to the specific details or m invention, the apparatus usedto practice same, the reference character Iii designates generally abench or the like with which my improvedapparatus is adapted to beassociated. The bench maybe supported as shown by any appropriate bracesH or the like. At one edge of the bench and on each end thereof may beprovided uprights I! having slots or V-shaped guides 13 therein forexample within which the opposite ends I! of a platform as said platformis moved upand down, said up and down movement being limited by the endsof the guides i3. Journalled in. said braces II is therein, theefficiency of the arms- H are adapted to be guided.

cycle until the required num-L master pinion 28 is so attached. Themaster gear 28 is considerably longer than the gears 28' for a purposepresently to be described.

' From the. above description it is seen that when the master gear 28.isrotated, each gear 25' and consequently each collet 24 will also rotatean identical amount through the connection of the spur gears 21, and inthe same direction.

The gear 28 is adapted to cause each of the colletsto alternately rotatea given number of degrees in opposite directions. The number of degreesof rotation of the collets 24 is the same as the number of degreesbetween the two armature slots in which the turns of wire are beingtures 2! consists of a laminated I 30, provided with a plurality ofwinding laid as generally explained above.

As shown in the drawings, each of the armasalient pole core slots 3|between the poles 32 extending parallel, to the axis of rotation of thearmature 28. Each armature 29 includes a shaft 33 and a commutator it,properly fixed, spaced and insulated by means of'various sleeves,washers, etc.. the arrangement of which is of no moment so far as thisinvention is cbncerned. Each of the armatures 20 is attached t a colletas, having its shaft is disthe inner passage of the collet and heldtherein by means of a set screw 30. A flange 31 is providedton the endof the collet 3! so that when same is inserted into the upper end of thecollet 2f, the flange will engage and overlie the collar 25 of thecollet 24. Obviously the collet 24 acts as a socket for receiving thecollet 35. holding same by means of the set screws 30.

Until the armatures 29 are completely wound they are each attached toone of the above described collets or sleeves 35 which is adapted to fitinto the center bore of the collet 24. As the collets 24 are rotatedalternately clockwise and posed within counter-clockwise, the armatures29 are rotated a cam shaft i8. Said shaft leis rotated by anyappropriate means ride upon the arcuate edge 22 one of which is keyed toeach end of the shaft i8 opposite the rollers Obviously as the cams 22rotate, theplatform i4 will-be raised each time the surface 2| enasesthe follower la and will be lowered immediately that the surface 2| hasbeen traversed by said follower.

platform II are a plurality the upper endfof the therewith. After eachskein has been wound, the I screw 38 is loosened and the sleeve" movedan amount'relative to the collet 24 equal in degrees to the number ofdegrees between respective poles 32. Any indicating means or measuringmeans maybe used for this purpose. For example, a

notch system is an ideal arrangement.

In order to rotate the master gear 28 back and forth I have providedasimple mechanism to transmit the motion from the shaft I8. I provide alarge gear 29 engaging with the master gear 28 and capable ofmaintaining its engagement therewith at all times. In other words, thegear 39 is rather thin in comparison with the gear 20 and is Joumalledupon a shaft 40 fixed relative to the bench [0. As the platform I israised and lowered, the gear 28 will move relative to the gear 39axially-thereof. Because of the great thickness or length of the mastergear 28 the teeth of the gear 39 slide along same while meshingtherewithand consequently armatures 28 can be rotated whether the platform II isup or down,

Referring now to Fig. 2, I have provided a second and smaller segmentcam ll keyed or in other appropriate manner aflixedto the shaft i8 andgaged by a stirrup 42 having one end 48 I rotatively mounted on a ilxedv thereby, while having the opposite end 4! formed which it has oppositewall of the stirrup,

-wires into the Thereare as many a complete revolution for each assaultand of the shaft "is lever shaft 44 and pivoted as a rider engagingwithin a notch 40 or the like provided in th face of thegear'fl. :As thecam 4| rotates, each time one of the straight sides 41 thereof engagesthe inside wall of the stirrup 42 the stirrup is pivotally moved inone'direction.

The stirrup 42 will remain in the position to been moved during theentire time that the curved surface 48 engages the side wall of thestirrup. When ,the cam 4| has its other straight side brought intoengagement with the the stirrup will be swung in the opposite direction,in which position it will remain during the surface 48 is in engagementwith the second inner wall of the stirrup 42. This cycle will berepeated as longas the device is in operation.

In this manner the rider 45 will describe an arc centered on the shaft40, and since the end engages the notch or slot 49 ofthe gear 39 saidgear will rotate alternately in opposite directions -a given number ofdegrees. The connection between the freeend 4! of the stirrup lever 42and the gear 99 may take the form of a ball and socket rider, universaljoint, or any of various time that the curved about whereby the "wirefiber paper may be rotating pulley system orgear or chain and sprocketdevice may be used. I have shown a -Vpulley ll Sgtaohed to the shaft 91and operated by the In insulating the skeins'of wire which are laid theslots from the rotor 39 usual inserts of used. However, I prefer coatingthe entire rotor 29 witha film of a liquid insulating material such asvarnish or enamel and baking the same to a tough insulating film. Thismethod is described in my copending application. By its use the paperinserts are eliminated.

My improved apparatus may be readily adapted for the winding ofarmatures having skewed rotors. Thus by substituting an appropriatelyshaped cam for-the cam 4|, the necessary compound movement of thecollets 24 may be brought may be wound within the skewed slots of therotor in the same manner slider arrangements the exact details thereofbeing of no great importance. The main purpose is to translate themotion of the shaft I 9 to the armatures 29 so that the movement of thearma- 1 tures will be timed with respect to the raising and lowering ofthe platform l4 by the cams 22 which are, of course, attached to thesame shaft I 8. Various other mechanical connections between gear 39 andshaft II should suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. a

The armatures are adapted to be wound with wire 49 fed thereto by anappropriate needle 90 which is mounted upon the bench ill by means ofthe bracket 5| The needle is adapted to lay the may be made toextendinto said slots. While I have shown the needle stationary,obviously same could be made with appropriate pable of causing it tomove a slight amount outwardly or the like with each turn or so of theslots 3i and, hence extends or mechanism ca- 5 within the purview of mywire in order to cause the wire to be laid evenly.

' However, that is-a mere refinement and not shown is guidedthroughahanger herein. The wire 49 52 supported on the bench I! from the spool53. spools I3 as there are arma-' ture units being wound. The spools maybe disposed upon the bench H or ranged to rotate on its shaft while atthe same time being rotated on an axis perpendicular to the spool shaft.The obvious purpose of this is to prevent the wire 49 from twistingwhile the armatures 29 are being wound. The spool, be-

generally shown at 56 is provided to maintain the tension in the wire49. The bracket has a shaft 51 which is rotatively mounted in thebearing 59 supported by the bracket 99. The free may even be ar'- rangedon a separate support. Each spool is artween a predetermined-pair ofslots of a rotor which comprises feeding a wire strand to a' feedstraight slots. v It should be obvious that the apparatus desameapparatus hereinabove despectto the windinsof rotors with and with thescribed with r scribed herein is more or less representative and thatthe mechanical expedients used are not intended to be exclusive. Forexample, the manner of mounting the respective armature units couldbe'varied in many ways; the rotation of 'the collets 24 may beaccomplished by means of belts or 'chains; the translation of thevarious motions may be accomplished by other means and diiferenttypes ofcams'and followers; and

the mounting of the spools may be different than that shown. I

It isbelieved that my invention, its mode of construction, assembly andpractice, and many of its advantages should be readily understood fromthe foregoingwithout further description, and it .should'also bemanifest that while a'preferred embodiment of the invention has beenshown and described for illustrative purposes, the structural detailsare nevertheless capable of wide variation the appended claims.

- whet I claim and desire to secure by Letters l Patent of the UnitedStates is: u

1. The method of winding a skein of wire bepoint adjacent the rotor andlaying the wire upon the rotor, then moving the rotor in a er-- ticaldirection to lay the wire then turning the rotor into the first slot,

a vertical direction to. slot, then turning the rotor to lay the wireacross the opposite end of the rotor to carry the strand; back to thestarting point to complete a turn, I

then repeating the cycle of movements until the desired number of turnsof wire have been laid in the slots, simultaneously twisting the wire acompleterevolution for each turn of wire laid to cause same to layevenly.

2. A device for winding a skein of wire between,

a pair: of slots of a rotor comprising a wire feed guide, a supportingplatform adapted in be moved in a vertical direction, means on saidplatform for disposing a rotor thereon with its axis perpendicular tosaid platform, said rotor being disposed adjacent said guide, a shaftadaptedto be driven, means associated with said shaft for thedifficulties of adjusting invention as defined in I to lay the wirestrand acrossthe end thereof, then moving the rotor in lay the wire inthe second upon said rotor.

periodically lifting and lowering said platform,

and means coupled to said shaft for periodically turning said rotorfirst in'one direction and then form being movable mun of the rotors,and

4 each rotor being rotativeLv mounted upon said platforms. each of saidguides being-adjacent in another, said last mentioned means being'timed'to rotate the rotor in one direction after the platform has beenlifted, and in the opposite direction after the platform has beenlowered,

thereby executing a cycle of motion capable of 4 causing a wire strandlaid onto said rotor by said wire feed guide tube wound in a completeturn 3. A device for winding a in a vertical direction, means on saidplatform for disposing a rotor thereon with its axis perpendicular tosaid platform, said rotorbeing disposed adjacent said guide, a shaftadapted to be driven, means associated with said shaft for periodicallylifting and lowering said platform, and means coupled to said shaft forperiodically turning said rotor first in one direction and theninanother, said last mentioned means being timed to rotate the rotor inone direction after the platform has been lifted, and in the oppositedirection after the platform has been lowered, therebyexecuting a cycleof motion capable of causing a wire strand laid onto said rotor by saidwire feed guide, to be wound in a complete turn upon said rotor, theupward movementcausing the wire strand to be laid in one slot, thesubsequent rotary movement causing the wire strand to be laid across theend to the second slot,'the subseskein of wire between I a pair of slotsof a rotor comprising a' wire feed guide, a supporting platform adaptedto be moved a rotor and adapted to lay a wire upon said rotor, means formoving said platform in a vertical direction, and means forsimultaneously turning each ofsaid rotors a given amount, said movingand turning means being timed so that r each of said rotors istranslated through a cycle of movements'past its respective guidewhereby a turn of wire is laid upon each rotor at each cycle, saidmoving and turning means including a cam mechanism periodically liftingand lowering the platform, and a second cam mechanism driving a chain ofgears, each rotor bein associated with one of said gears, and a singledriver for both of said mechanisms.

7. A machin for winding a plurality of rotors having winding slots, andplacing a skein of 4 wire upon each rotor between two predetermined lplatform movable and adapted to be guided upwardly and downwardlm; aplurality of rotatable socket devices spaced along said platform andeach adapted to have slots, comprising a a rotor removably mountedtherein, a plurality .of wire. feed guides arranged each adjacent one ofsaid rotors and adapted to lay a strand of wire upon said rotor, a driveshaft for operating said machine, a" cam mechanism coupled withsaidshaft-for alternately lifting and lowering said platform .a givenamount.uand a second mechanism coupled with said shaft for rotatquentdownward movement causing the wire" strand to be laid into thesecondslot, and the final reverse rotary movement causing the wirestrand to be laid across the. second end of the rotor completing a turn.

4. A rotor winding machine comprising a plurality of wire feed guides, aplatform mounting a plurality of rotors upon their axes, said platformbeing movable axially of the rotors, and

turn of wire is laid upon each rotor at each.

cycle.

5. A rotor winding machine comprising a plurality of wire feed guides, aplatform mounting a plurality of rotors upon their axes, said platformbeing movable axially ofthe rotors, and

each rotorbeing rotativelymounted upon. said platforms, each of saidguides being adjacent a rotor andadapted to lay ,a wire upon said rotor,means for moving said platformin a vertical direction, and means forsimultaneously turning each of said rotors a given amount, said movinging each of said socket devices alternately in' opposite directions anamountequal to the num- I .ber of degrees. between the two slots withinwhich the wire is to be laid, said mechanisms being timed to causethe'rotors to be translated in a cycle of movements past the wire feedguide whereby the wire will be laid upon the rotor and wound between thetwo slots, each cycle serving to lay one turn of wire upon each rotor.

8. A machine for winding a plurality of rotors having winding slots, andplacing a slrein of wire upon each rotor between two predeterminedslots, comprising a platform movable and adapted to be guided upwardlyand down- ,wardly, a plurality of rotatable socket devices spaced alongsaid platform'and'e'ach'adapted to have a rotor removably mountedtherein,'a plurality of wire feed guides arranged each ad-' jacent oneof said rotors and'adapted to lay a strand of wire upon said rotor, adrive shaft for operating said machine, a cam mechanism I coupled withsaid shaft for alternately lifting in opposite directions an amountequal to theand turning means being timed sothat each of said rotors istranslated through a cycle of movements past its respectiveguidewherebya turn of wire is laid upon eachrotorfat' each cycle, saidmoving. and turning 'means' including ,a cam mechanismperiodicallyglifting 'and lowering the platform, ands-second cammechanism driving a chain of; gears-, each rotor being associatedwithjone of saidgealja f I 6. A rotor winding machine co'mpri ng aplurality of wire feed guides, a platform mounting l a plurality ofrotorsupontheir axes, said platand lowering said platform a givenamount, and

- a second mechanism coupled withsaid shaft for I rotating each of saidsocket devices alternately number of degrees between the two slotswithin which the wire is to be laid, said mechanisms.

being timed to cause the rotors to be translated in a cycle of movementspast the wire feed guide whereby the wire will be laid upon the rotorand wound between the two slots, each cycle serving to lay one turn ofwire upon each rotor, and means for untwisting said wire while said wireis being laid.

9. A machine for winding a plurality of rotors having. winding slots,and placing a skein of wire upon each-rotor between two predeterminedslots, comprising a platform movable and adapted to be guided upwardlyand downwardly,

- a plurality of rotatable socket devices spaced along said platform andeach adapted to have a rotor removably mounted therein, a plurality ofassoQeocj A of movements past the wire feed guide whereby 7 wire feedguides arranged each adjacent one ofthe wire will be laid upon the rotorand wound said rotors and adapted to lay'a strand of wire upon saidrotor, a drive shaft for operating said 'machine, a cam mechanismcoupled with said shaft for alternately lifting and lowering saidplatform a given'amount, and a second mechanism coupled with said shaitfor rotating each of said socket devices alternately in oppositedircctionsan amount equal to the number oi degrees between the two slotswithin which the between the two slots, each cycle serving to lay oneturn of wire upon each'rotor, and a plurality oi reel holding mechanismsforv supportins reels of wire being led to said guides, and,

means operated by said shaft causing said reel holding mechanisms torotate said reels through 360 for each turn placed upon the rotorsthereby 10 preventing the twisting of. said wire while same wire is tobe laid, said mechanisms being time'd to cause the rotors to bc in}cycle is being wound upon said rotors. -'HARRYC.S'IEARNS.-

